House Democrats are on the warpath. They’ve upped the ante against House Republicans by coming up with an entire slate of legislation meant to address the actual concerns of actual citizens. They’re calling it Middle Class Jumpstart. It’s meant to jumpstart the middle class and those trying to get into the middle class.

House Democrats are promising to pass this legislation within 100 days a Democratic House Majority.

They say the Jumpstart puts the middle class ahead of special interests. Jumpstart has three prongs: Good paying jobs, support for women, and affordable and accessible education.

In a phone conference with reporters today, Leader Pelosi explained, “It’s a very positive agenda… These are issues the public has been telling us they are concerned about.” Pelosi said the economy is improving, but the folks at home still have concerns. What Democrats are promising isn’t just rhetoric, “For every initiative we are putting forth, we have legislation to match it.” She continued, “One of the things we can do is bring Republicans around, but it won’t help to elect more people with the same agenda.”

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that a key point in their plan is the “Make it in America” plan, “Something both sides agree on and has bipartisan support, which will expand manufacturing so we can get good paying jobs.” The Democrats want to give tax breaks to folks who create jobs here – “on-shoring” jobs, as opposed to Republicans who have worked hard to protect the tax breaks for companies that offshore.

Hoyer talked about the difference between Republicans and Democrats, using the Republican refusal to help during Sandy as an example of how the Republican approach is “You’re on your own.”

He said that the Jumpstart plan will show Americans that the Democrats are on their side and armed with a plan to help, “It will be clear to Americans that no only do we have a plan, but we are on their side, while Republicans have been telling Americans ‘You’re on your own’. A perfect example is when Sandy hit the coast, and Republicans said ‘We’re not going to help.'”

Hoyer hit the sweet spot when he said, “We think Americans want a Congress that is on its side.” If that is possible, it is surely what the public not only wants and needs, but deserves.

The Democrats’ Make It In America plan:

• Republicans voted to give tax breaks to companies that ship American jobs overseas
• Democrats will introduce the “21st Century Make It In America Act” to provide tax incentives for creating good-paying jobs here at home
• Republicans blocked legislation to make long-term investments in our nation’s aging highway system and opposed creating clean energy jobs of the future
• House Democrats will pass the “Build America Bonds Act” to boost job growth and modernize America’s infrastructure by building roads, bridges, broadband technology and investing in clean energy initiatives – paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes
• Republicans refused to raise the minimum wage but gave massive tax giveaways to corporate special interests and the ultra-wealthy
House Democrats will pass the “Fair Minimum Wage Act” and the “CEO/Employee Pay Fairness Act” to deny CEOs the ability to claim tax deductions for pay over $1 million unless they give their employees a raise

Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-SC) drew attention to the fact that our children are on the table this election, saying, “People are scared for their children.” Clyburn touched on how his own deep red state of South Carolina refused to expand Medicaid, something that impacts children.

Clyburn called out the media for not covering the issues of the People, “The media will not be our friends,” he started, before Leader Pelosi cut him off to diplomatically point out that the media were on the call, “Let’s hope that they will, especially those on the call, and thank you for the focus on children.”

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) detailed what Pelosi called “woman-onomics” – which is basically a comprehensive economic program, including the Paycheck Fairness Act, “Healthy Families Act” to ensure paid sick leave for men and women, and increase access to affordable child care, and strengthen the “Violence Against Women Act” and will expand women’s access to comprehensive health care and family planning. DeLauro said these changes were “long overdue.”

Republicans voted no on equal pay for women, voted against paid sick leave, voted to turn the Violence Against Women Act into a Pro-Violence Against Women Act, and voted to defund Planned Parenthood.

For education, Dems promise to pass:

• House Democrats will pass the “Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act” to help Americans refinance their college loans to new, lower rates, and will increase access to Pell Grants for higher education
• House Democrats will pass the “Strong Start for America’s Children Act” to increase access to effective early childhood learning

So much for the “both parties are the same” meme. Policy talks.

Republicans have made it very easy for Democrats to use the GOP’s record against them in the 2014 midterm elections.

Fired Up Democrats Unveil A List Of Bills They Will Pass If They Take Back The House was written by Sarah Jones for PoliticusUSA.

Ms. Jones is a Senior White House and Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Since joining Politicus in February of 2009, Sarah has been quoted by Talking Points Memo, The Atlantic Wire, CNN, MSNBC, The Week, The Hollywood Reporter, The Richard Dawkins Foundation and more. Sarah co-hosts Politicus Radio with Jason Easley and is the political correspondent for KPTR 1450's California Woman 411, hosted by Dee Jae Cox. Sarah is an award-winning producer with a background in TV/Film (TV host, news anchor, producer & writer) and a member of the Screen Actors Guild/AFTRA and SPJ. Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a major in Psychology & minor in Latin. She spends her free time dancing (ballet) and horseback riding (English).

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37 Responses to Fired Up Democrats Unveil A List Of Bills They Will Pass If They Take Back The House

Vicki Johnson

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:21 pm

YIPEE!!! this is what I have been waiting for! I would like an entire list of things DEMS would do. And also, a simple list of all the items republicans have blocked. I also want to keep up on all the states’ issues and races so we can put all this in front of the voters as much as possible. THANKS!! I am so glad everyone is fighting back on ALL the issues. I think all the different democratic movements are coming together, which is what it is going to take to defend our country. I think we need to better point out how GOP talk about their own country, their own people, their war talk and saying America is weak talk. I LOVE OUR COUNTRY AND I AM SICK OF THEM TALKING TRASH ABOUT IT. IF THEY HATE MOST OF THE PEOPLE, THEY SHOULDN’T BE SERVING THEM!!

BrianP

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:23 pm

We have to get out there this election cycle and vote to save the middle class and to build a healthier more prosperous nation. I strongly feel Democrats can deliver on this promise. GET TO THE POLLS THIS NOVEMBER!!

labrat

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:24 pm

It’s about time!

Dustin

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:24 pm

I want to see this work, man. All of these good ideas that can be put to use.

Let’s face it… America was at it’s strongest when we had a strong middle class and the new plan will help that. So, vote Blue this November and you can become part of the rising middle class as well.

Maxie2014

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:29 pm

Ive been fired up for the past couple if weeks! i’ve volunteered to door knock, phone bank, and assist people with transportation

In about two more weeks I attend grassroots conference that is aimed at GOTV!! This midterm is no different than a Presidential election.

We have to educate voters, explain why their vote is important, and get them to the polls. It is very revealing that the Rethugs are out fundraising while the Democrats are strategizing. The Repubs have no plan for working and middle class voter.

I’m confident the Dems will retake Congress.

brad

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 7:29 pm

I hope your right

TerryLF

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 9:22 pm

We need to show Republicans that it takes more than money to win in American politics.

Andrew Rei

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:40 pm

Well, it’d be a good start….there are several other bills they’d need to pass….

djchefron

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:47 pm

Like a Veterans Jobs bill, building a renewable energy sector, hello jobs in manufacturing and installing. Increased funding for day care so parents can go to work and with that more hiring of head start teachers

sammy

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 7:17 pm

Many of the things the Dems are talking about have already been introduced but have been blocked by the republicans.

djchefron

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 7:19 pm

That’s why we need to vote. The United States are not a collection of know nothing theocrats who think the rapture is around the corner

WILLDYE4U

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:41 pm

This is exactly what Dems need to do!
Show Americans who is really on their
side. Expose GOP Hypocrisy. Encourage
Americans to VOTE and explain what will
happen if they don’t!

Edward Shafer

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 5:56 pm

I just hope the Dems get out and vote this election. Your lives depend on it.

Doris~

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 7:23 pm

Ummm,Edward,does your life depend on it? unless you are a one percenter or teathug,methinks your life depends on the Dem vote too & I do stand corrected.

Doris~

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 7:26 pm

Don’t ya mean OUR lives depend on the vote?

Shiva

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 6:14 pm

I think this can get over with women at the very least. Especially men and women in the lower wage areas. Its a good idea, one that should sell

Doris~

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 6:15 pm

Get out the vote!!! and while the teathugs are stuck on stupid we will leave them stuck on stupid like crazy glue..
VOTE BLUE! WE NEED A BLUE HOUSE and NOT A
SHAME HOUSE!

rossbro

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 6:18 pm

I do not see how Republicans can better show Americans that they are against all people except millionaires and Corporations. This Country had better vote these bums out and vote for Representatives who will help America and her citizens.

Raymond Smith

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 6:51 pm

Reverse and then on top increase all of the Food Stamp cuts. These cuts are starving people and hitting all families hard. By the way the cuts also hurt our military families as well. The GOP enjoys saying the support the troops. When push comes to shove all they do is talk. They try to make a big deal of the fact that they pushed through funding for VA. The funding was far under what the VA requested like usual. They under fund while giving Billions in subsidies and tax breaks to Corporations that do not serve or protect the USA.
It is past time to take this country back from the GOP and make it stronger then before.

Kenneth White, Jnr

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 10:02 pm

Like Jon Stewart has said in the past dont just let your “FIRED UP” status now “FLAME OUT” like you are the kid still “sitting at the Principals Office still glued to the chair” by Election Day, in November crying your eyes out because the big bad Republicans arent playing fair again. You need to take a cue from your Libertarian candidate opponents: Stand up, Rip your pants down the middle, and put the legislation forward now! If its really ready “For every initiative we are putting forth, we have legislation to match it.” (Nancy Pelosi)”, ready to come forward, do it NOW. Dont just give us rhetoric, prove your pointes, and prove the Republicans and Jon Stewart wrong, dont let your “fired up” flame out before Fall! Dont just CLAIM IT, EXPOSE IT!! #showmeyourteeth

Pat Adams

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 10:14 pm

I think the Tebagging GOP Party have woke the sleeping giant.. I love it when the Dems have a plan for America.. All the Teabagging GOP want to do is try and get the POUS out of office..They haven’t been very successful though!!

John de Clef Pineiro

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 11:40 pm

You mean the same list they failed to pass (or didn’t think of) when Democrats overwhelmingly controlled the House, the Senate and the White House after the 2008 election? . . .

This resonates like a page from the mid-nineties GOP playbook (for those old enough to remember): Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America,” when the GOP took back the House during the Clinton years.

We know that marketing can work and this has all of the look and sound of such contrivance to renew Americans’ “contract” the same crew, including Nancy Pelosi, that already fooled us once . . . or was that twice already?

djchefron

Wed, Aug 6th, 2014 at 11:48 pm

I know facts don’t matter to you but the Dems never had a super majority in the Senate. One race was tied up in court, LIE- berman still piss at losing his primary was basically a rethug and there was still filibuster rules in place…. Ah for f*cks sake, why I waste my time with dumbasses

daddycool

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 2:33 pm

Even though we never had a super majority … let’s just pretend for a minute that we did. That would have been prior to January 2011. And there you have the repub party in a nutshell: They’d rather talk about what somebody else did/didn’t do 4 years ago, then talk about what THEY have done, are doing now, or will do in the future.
Why?
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT!

Besides that … they have ZERO plans for the future.(That must be because they realize that they really don’t HAVE a future.)

daddycool

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 2:50 pm

I live in a place that goes ALL blue … ALL the time. So me getting out and pumping people up here is like preaching to the choir.

Exactly. People need to *think* about the timing of this. Why haven’t they worked on ANY of this before… instead of now with midterm elections on the horizon? Hello? It’s so obvious I’m amazed (or not) that some people are so easily conned. Looking at their ‘list’ all I see is the taking of an opportunity to blame blame blame and get the unquestioning sheep fired up.

Shiva

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 4:47 pm

Would that be the same as the gop refusing to do anything to get their uninformed uneducated minions all riled up to vote?

djchefron

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 4:52 pm

I know you are a real info person but the drunk one would not let any amendments to come up for a vote and I know this will be a shock to your lizard brain but you baggers tend to use some bullshit call the Hastert rule. Look it up before your mouth tries to cash checks your ass cant cover.

Fredbear

Fri, Aug 8th, 2014 at 9:05 am

you mean like for 8 years while g w bush used the constitution for toilet paper and not one peep from the right wing, along comes a democrat president, a new group of people calling themselves ‘teabaggers’ (until someone told them what teabagging actually is) and all they do is talk about how much they love the constitution.
remember how republicans pissed and whined during president obama’s first 2 years in office that he was getting too much done?
or how republicans said there had to be a “super-majority” to get things done, when all it really was was a way for them to protect their asses and to keep democrats from doing the job they were elected to do?

Doris~

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 9:38 am

After all words we must show action in November,remember November,actions speak louder than words. VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THOMAS P-51 MUSTANG FLY BY

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 11:56 am

THERE IT IS! The list of Good will. The list that shows what the country gets with Democrats in total control. In comparison the Republicans Have no such plans…they DO have a plan to DO nothing and BLOCK progress. That’s their plan since Obama got elected twice. So, America needs to know what the Democrats will be doing for their future, and what and how the Republicans have done NOTHING and is doing NOTHING, the only thing we get from Republicans is BS and war talk, and Obama bashing. The Doom and Gloom is SICKENING! We need a breath of Fresh Air—Broom out the DO NOTHING REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN !!!!

djchefron

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 12:08 pm

Now this is a good idea for Dems to get behind, the President can do it right now and it will piss off the baggers

Now we have to absolutely POUND the public with this message from now until November.
Using all forms of media.

Also .. please go ahead Fox and tell everybody why you think all of these ideas are bad for America. When Fox does that … THEY need to be highlighted as anti middle class.(Because they ARE.)

Glenda

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 6:59 pm

There are many things that need to be passed. This list is a good start. They should also focus on getting rid of the Koch Brothers, Monsanto and their ilk for poisoning all of us for one thing. Make it easier for US citizens to get the help they need for housing, medical, SSDI, SSI, etc.

Get rid of big money in politics, get rid of lobbyists, etc. etc.

Tex-Mex

Thu, Aug 7th, 2014 at 10:09 pm

I want to further the Republican agenda: “You are on your own and we are going to screw you more”. In my understanding, the Violence Against Women Act has to be renewed for a certain period. I think this is outrageous, since politicians are playing with the lives of women. This bill has to be permanently be put in place, rather than having the republicans hold out on the renewing process. Women are to be respected and their voices heard.I just think of women who have had an impact in my lives and realize that society doesn’t treat them equally as men. We must fight for equality and gain political power in 2014 to amend the injustices. I also wish that in the future we might get universal healthcare coverage. We must realize the dream of Ted Kennedy, Tip O’Neil, and countless more who have been fighting for healthcare reform. GOTV 2014, I will vote and get as many people to the polls.

Rita

Mon, Aug 18th, 2014 at 10:48 pm

Can we add: Raise the salary cap on Social Security to make it solvent for another 60 years and a carbon tax that will raise billions of $.